2026.2.26 The FBI arrested a retired U.S. Air Force major, but the real story is the pipeline that made it possible. After twenty-four years in uniform, including nuclear delivery command, he retired and trained American pilots on the F-35 simulator until the CCP recruited him… pic.twitter.com/TNU9M68PO7

— NFSC Speaks (@NFSCSpeak) February 27, 2026

https://twitter.com/NFSCSpeak/status/2027211424183832809

By L Todd Wood
February 27, 2026

A former U.S. Air Force major and experienced fighter pilot has been arrested on federal charges accusing him of illegally providing combat training to pilots in China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., 65, also known by his call sign "Runner," was taken into custody Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana, shortly after returning to the United States from China in early February 2026. Brown, a U.S. citizen, faces charges of providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without the required authorization from the State Department, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and related International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

According to the criminal complaint, Brown — who served more than two decades in the Air Force, including as an instructor pilot on advanced aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter and with expertise in nuclear delivery systems — began conspiring with foreign nationals and U.S. persons as early as August 2023 to deliver combat aircraft training to PLAAF pilots. Prosecutors allege that Brown knowingly lacked the necessary license from the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to offer such services to foreign military personnel, reported SOFX.

In December 2023, Brown traveled to China to commence the training. On his first day in the country, he reportedly spent three hours answering questions about the U.S. Air Force. The following day, he prepared and delivered a personal briefing to PLAAF personnel. He remained in China for an extended period, departing only in early February 2026."

The United States Air Force trained Major Brown to be an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defense of our Nation. He now stands charged with training Chinese military pilots," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg in a statement. "When U.S. persons — whether military or civilian — provide training to a foreign military, that activity is illegal unless they have a license from the State Department."

Lee Russ, executive director of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Office of Special Projects, emphasized the national security implications: "Providing U.S. military training to our adversaries represents a significant threat to national security."

Brown appeared before a Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Indiana on February 26, 2026, for his initial court appearance. Reports indicate a federal judge ordered him to remain in custody pending further proceedings.

This case is not the first involving former U.S. military aviators accused of similar activities. In 2017, former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan faced AECA charges for allegedly assisting Chinese pilots with aircraft carrier operations. Duggan, a naturalized Australian citizen, has denied the allegations, asserting that U.S. officials were aware of his work and that it involved only civilian pilots. He was arrested in Australia in 2022 and is awaiting extradition to the United States.

The arrest of Brown highlights ongoing U.S. concerns over the transfer of sensitive military knowledge to potential adversaries, particularly amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The Department of Justice continues to investigate, with no additional details released on potential co-conspirators or the full scope of the training provided. Brown is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Author
L Todd Wood, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, flew special operations helicopters supporting SEAL Team 6, Delta Force and others. After leaving the military, he pursued his other passion, finance, spending 18 years on Wall Street trading emerging market debt and was a national security columnist for The Washington Times. He is also founder/publisher of CDM. For more information about L. Todd Wood, visit LToddWood.com.